Shower pan cost in Philadelphia, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 pan)
- $1,100 – $3,100
- Per pan
- $1,062 – $2,570
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +12%
- US $1,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #35
- 1 = most expensive
Philadelphia homeowners pay roughly $1,100 to $3,100 to install a shower pan at 1 pan, or $1,062 to $2,570 per pan (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Philadelphia is 12% higher. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $35.99 an hour in the Philadelphia area, 17% above the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 1 pan in Philadelphia, PA, standard level
$1,700 to $2,500
About $1,514 to $2,117 per pan before permits. Labor is about 61% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $380 | $690 |
| Labor | $1,150 | $1,450 |
| Permits and fees | $180 | $370 |
| Total | $1,700 | $2,500 |
Cost breakdown for 1 pan in Philadelphia, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $530 | $920 | 26% |
| Labor | $920 | $1,300 | $1,650 | 61% |
| Permits and fees | $30 | $270 | $510 | 13% |
| Total | $1,100 | $2,100 | $3,100 | 100% |
Where the Philadelphia price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $35.99 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Philadelphia is 1.22 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 61% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Philadelphia metro is 96.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1 pan comes to $530, compared with $550 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (102.6) and land at $30 to $510.
What nearby projects cost in Philadelphia
Because every project leans on different trades, Philadelphia's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen backsplash runs +8% and window replacement −1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,000 – $24,900 | +7% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,250 – $14,300 | +1% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,500 – $14,800 | −1% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,400 – $31,400 | level |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $330 – $1,600 | +8% |
How Philadelphia compares
Same job, same size (1 pan), priced for the nearest metros. Philadelphia is the priciest of the group. Atlantic City is the cheapest at $1,950.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PAthis page | $1,100 – $3,100 | $2,100 | |
| Vineland, NJ40 miles | $1,050 – $3,000 | $2,050 | −3% |
| Trenton, NJ40 miles | $1,050 – $3,050 | $2,050 | −2% |
| Reading, PA50 miles | $1,000 – $2,950 | $2,000 | −5% |
| Lancaster, PA50 miles | $990 – $2,900 | $1,950 | −7% |
| Atlantic City, NJ50 miles | $980 – $2,900 | $1,950 | −8% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $1,050 – $3,000 | $2,050 | −3% |
| United States | $930 – $2,800 | $1,850 | −11% |
Across 300 US metros, Philadelphia comes in at #35 from the top. The priciest is Bellingham, WA at $2,450; the cheapest is Jonesboro, AR at $1,500 (midpoints, 1 pan). Statewide, Philadelphia is 3% above the Pennsylvania figure.
Other Pennsylvania metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $1,050 – $2,950 | $2,000 | −4% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $910 – $2,750 | $1,850 | −12% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $1,100 – $3,100 | $2,100 | level |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $1,000 – $2,900 | $1,950 | −6% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $990 – $2,900 | $1,950 | −7% |
| York, PA | 183,590 jobs | $1,050 – $3,050 | $2,050 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Philadelphia's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Philadelphia against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | 3,136,190 jobs | $940 – $2,900 | $1,900 | −8% |
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $850 – $2,650 | $1,750 | −16% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $860 – $2,650 | $1,750 | −16% |
| Miami, FL | 2,819,940 jobs | $850 – $2,750 | $1,800 | −14% |
Shower pan: what moves the price in Philadelphia
Extras
Benches, trench drains and curb changes add $100-$600.
Tile
Tile for the shower costs $10-$50 per square foot installed, and that comes on top of the pan.
Permit
Plumbing permits are $30-$500, and many cities require one to replace a shower pan.
Pick a size, pick a tier: shower pan pricing in Philadelphia
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Philadelphia wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 1 common sizes.
Basic
$1,100 to $1,900
Pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan
Standard
$1,700 to $2,500
Tile-ready pan with tile finish
Premium
$2,300 to $3,100
Custom mud or stone pan
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one shower pan | $1,100 – $1,900 | $1,700 – $2,500 | $2,300 – $3,100 |
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Philadelphia is 1.22 times the national level.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 50%) the local median is $35.99 an hour, which is 17% above the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $29.28 and $49.89 an hour. BLS counts 7,150 of them working in the area, 24.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is thinner than average.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 50%) the local median is $34.01 an hour, which is 27% above the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $24.64 and $38.68 an hour. BLS counts 390 of them working in the area, 1.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($49.89 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $240. At the 25th percentile ($29.28) it shrinks by about $110. The total moves by 11.4% or 5.5%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 2,897,830 jobs in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington area. That makes it the 7th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 1.86% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 50% | $29.28 | $35.99 | $49.89 | $30.67 | 1.17 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 50% | $24.64 | $34.01 | $38.68 | $26.77 | 1.27 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.22 | |||||
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Shower pan in Philadelphia: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a shower pan in Philadelphia?
For 1 pan, expect $1,100 to $3,100 in the Philadelphia area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,700 to $2,500. Small jobs usually cost more per pan and large ones less.
+What is the price per pan for shower pan in Philadelphia?
About $1,062 to $2,570 per pan for materials and labor, plus $30 to $510 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $900 to $2,300.
+Is shower pan cheaper in Philadelphia or Vineland?
Vineland is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 1 pan there is $2,050, which is 3% less than Philadelphia ($2,100). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Philadelphia?
About 61% at the midpoint, or $1,300 out of $2,100. Materials are 26% and permits 13%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would one shower pan cost in Philadelphia?
$1,100 to $3,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does shower pan need a permit in Philadelphia?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $30 to $510 for fees in the Philadelphia area (our national range of $30 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Philadelphia expensive for shower pan compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Philadelphia is 3% above the Pennsylvania statewide estimate ($2,050 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Pennsylvania; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Philadelphia?
The BLS median is $35.99 an hour in the Philadelphia area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $29.28 to $49.89.
+What do basic and premium shower pan work cost in Philadelphia?
For 1 pan, basic work runs $1,100 to $1,900 and premium work $2,300 to $3,100. Basic means: pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan. Premium means: custom mud or stone pan.
Shower pan near Philadelphia
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.